loves my F.S.A. compact bars , the difference is huge and so much more comfortable , I've got small hands and a small body , everything is in easy reach now :)
*Worth mentioning:* Manufacturers measure differently (i.e. 42cm center-to-center vs 42cm outside-to-outside). Make sure to physically measure and not just rely on printed numbers, or you could be in for a surprise.
thechosendude I suppose it is like trying clothe. You always go for the one fits. And most ppl would be fitted well by one size say medium, most shop bikes therefore have 'medium' bar installed
If you go to a bike shop that has fitting services, they will usually have some variety of sizes that you can at least compare and see differences; even if they're on floor bikes. My comment was mostly for ordering something on assumption of size.
Yea well I've ordered on eBay 2 years ago a (FSA Team Issue Compact 40cm) as I'm 6.0ft but have small shoulders, yet I measured it yesterday and it appears to be 38cm goddamnit. I dunno though if it can lead to pain or if it's just a too-wide handlebar that can cause neck/shoulder fatigue.
I worked out a while ago that for me the 'ergonomic' bars are anything but. I found I could never get them comfortable on the hoods and the drops. Reaching the levers from the drops always dictated how I set them up and my wrist was always bent when in the drops. I worked out I wanted small radius curve in the bar rather than the 45^ angle of the ergonomics. Luckily FSA started making exactly what I wanted in the form of the Compact Wing bar and I've been using that ever since. Good video. All the points are spot on. Especially the part about keeping your wrist straight when on the drops.
I have found this to be one of the most frustrating decisions to make when it comes to bike parts. This video has definitely help provide some clarity. Thank you as always guys.
I ride a compact bar now and never would've dreamt that'd be the case. This is so, during bunch riding i can be more heads up, when I can ride on the drops.
Changed my long stem and deep drops for a short 70mm stem and FSA compact bars. Huge difference. Way more comfy now. If you have a bike with aggressive road geometry and you're feeling a bit stretched, then give it a go.
My hands are too small for drop bars :(. My fingers are too short to reach and use the brakes so i am stuck with flat bar bikes. my dreams are ruined but luckily there are options out there now! i watched the entire video trying no to cry but thank you Simon for the information at lease i can advise others.
Tha photo of the bike according with the présentateur, for the smaller cyclist using the short reach the blue one, belong to Romain Bardet the french cyclist that is 1,84 mts tall. He's not small at all! Thanks for the opportunity
I can't get on with modern compact bars, it always feels like I'm going to fall out the back of the drops somehow. I switched my road bike to 40cm Deda Newton traditional bars with a shallow drop. Best thing I ever did, made the bike more comfortable and my hands less numb. I'm considering the same bars for the CX bike now...
Handlebar shape is often overlooked when setting up your position. Handlebars have a far greater affect on your position than a stem. I myself ride a track handlebar on a road bike which gives a huge difference between the drops and hoods.
I've got Cinnelli's matched to my shoulder width but with less drop than older ones. They're traditional according to your classification. I like them because the geometry is so simple: right angles and regular curves (the radius of curvature is constant). I like to angle the drops so my wrists aren't bent and my setup is pretty different in that way from what I see here on GCN.
Hello chaps and ladies- I’m considering swapping my drop bars for bullhorn bars....I’ve always wanted to try them and would like a slightly more upright seating position. Would you please consider doing a video about bullhorns for road bikes?
I'd be really interested in a video that features alternative handlebars! It's not everyday you see flat bars on a road bike but people do it for a reason! Also the handlebars by BP4 Design are cool, check them out!
What type of machine are you riding the bike on in the video. It looks smooth and with out sound. Can you give us recommendations on that type of machine or do a video on it.Thx.
I just went with a Zipp compact arrow bar on my road bike. I went to a more narrow bar as my shoulders roll in when I am on the bike.. Only wish I would have made this chance earlier..
need to correct one thing: narrow bars are more stable at higher speed. I switched to 36cm bars on the track and they helped so much i switched on all my bikes.
Nope, wider bars are more stable. Try and ride with your hands nearest the stem on a mountain bike and tell me how that works out. If a wider bar seems less stable to someone, they probably have other fit issues hindering their reach. Longer stems are also more stable than shorter stems because it 'slows' the steering by requiring more end movement for same degree of rotation.
narrow bars and long stems both work to reduce the steering input and stabilize the steering, if you look at mountain bikes they go for super short stems and super wide bars to give the opposite effect and increase maneuverability
:Galen Kehler Big reason short stems in MTB are popular right now is because geometry changes in the last few years have accommodated for them, by stretching the effective tube tube length, thereby allowing shorter stems for more reactive, "faster" steering. It also keeps weight distribution further back for technical descents. The wide bar phenomenon in MTB is simply due to leverage. More leverage, more control pointing the wheel forward. Even in XC we see more wide bars. XC racers only ran narrow bars because of clearance between trees (courses are much wider now, however) and more aero (we now know aero gain on the bars has become neglible compared to what time is lost in the woods from narrow bars). Here's a great read on stems, specifically about turning arc: cyclingtips.com/2015/03/how-does-stem-length-affect-a-bikes-steering-and-handling/
"If I spend any length of time in the drops..." But do you anyway? If the bars are so shallow that the position is basically the same on the hoods versus the drops (the arms sweeping out an arc about the shoulder) then what's the point? I personally like the drops to provide a bit of a lower position so I can be more aggressive when I really want that, for example when taking a pull at the front of the group, but then to go back to the hoods when comfort, rather than aerodynamics, has a higher priority. Additionally, I think when switching brake levers, for example from Shimano to SRAM, the latter designed to be flush with the top of the bars, the optimal reach may change. Back in the downtube shifter days when people used to ride in the ramps, the arms don't extend out ahead of the bars as they would with SRAM, and the optimal bar reach would be greater.
I've just started using deep drops, mainly to get down out of our wonderful headwinds round here. I can't understand how you say compact are easier to reach the brakes? I find the levers are far closer on my more traditional deep drops than they were on my compact bars due to the bend going farther forwards (hence the longer reach too I assume).
ı really don't understand why you advertise drop bars. Riding bikes since I was 4yo, and flat handlebars are definitely better in most cases (except aerodynamics)
I went the opposite direction with Nitto RB-018 pursuit bars. Probably looks odd to some people, but they fit my riding and get me into a good aero position.
Hello Simon, may I ask what is your shoulder width? If you choose 42 cm handlebar for your road bike, does that mean your shoulder width is 40 cm? I'm asking to try to figure out what size should I be using. Is it ok if I choose the same handlebar width as my shoulder? Thanks
Both my bikes have "aero" hadlebars. One has Ritchey and the other has 3T. It's more difficult to attach things on the handlebars, your palms hurt in long rides and the marginal aero advantage appears above 40 km/h - but they look "nice". The choice is yours. I bought the Ritchey first because it has ergonomic drops, much better than the classic round my Trek had.
You didn't mention the style with drops flared out, like on the Specialized Sequoia. Is that something only suitable for gravel/adventure bikes? Are there any drawbacks to that design other than aerodynamics?
I've recently changed from 44cm bars to 42cm. Both bars have a 70mm reach (Zipp SL70) but I'm finding that I fatigue quicker. Is this normal, and likely to dissapear when I get used to them a bit more?
When i am on hoods I feel ok, maybe a bit stretched out, but when on drops i get a feeling that i would like i bit longer reach. Any suggestions for handlebars which give longer reach for drops ?
wait, is that a 1x setup for a road/cx bike? that left shifter looks weird without the shifting paddle!
7 лет назад
If the bars flare out from the hoods to the drops, do I have to match my shoulder width with the hoods or the drops? For example, the FSA compact bars that flare out about 2cm. Thanks :D
Is 8cm reach long? I am 16 years old and I am building my own road bike and I dont have any experience with road bike. What size reach so you advise me?
Thank you Si for making me have doubts about the handlebars I bought last week and I'm still waiting for it to arrive by mail...
Bruno Kabbaz nobody cares..,...., did your bars arrive..¿
loves my F.S.A. compact bars , the difference is huge and so much more comfortable , I've got small hands and a small body , everything is in easy reach now :)
si is such a good presenter .. unless he was on a rave party the night before
*Worth mentioning:* Manufacturers measure differently (i.e. 42cm center-to-center vs 42cm outside-to-outside). Make sure to physically measure and not just rely on printed numbers, or you could be in for a surprise.
thechosendude I suppose it is like trying clothe. You always go for the one fits. And most ppl would be fitted well by one size say medium, most shop bikes therefore have 'medium' bar installed
If you go to a bike shop that has fitting services, they will usually have some variety of sizes that you can at least compare and see differences; even if they're on floor bikes. My comment was mostly for ordering something on assumption of size.
Bontrager measures their handlebars on the top which is very uncommon. Most manufacturers measure them at the drops...
Yea well I've ordered on eBay 2 years ago a (FSA Team Issue Compact 40cm) as I'm 6.0ft but have small shoulders, yet I measured it yesterday and it appears to be 38cm goddamnit. I dunno though if it can lead to pain or if it's just a too-wide handlebar that can cause neck/shoulder fatigue.
I worked out a while ago that for me the 'ergonomic' bars are anything but. I found I could never get them comfortable on the hoods and the drops. Reaching the levers from the drops always dictated how I set them up and my wrist was always bent when in the drops. I worked out I wanted small radius curve in the bar rather than the 45^ angle of the ergonomics. Luckily FSA started making exactly what I wanted in the form of the Compact Wing bar and I've been using that ever since.
Good video. All the points are spot on. Especially the part about keeping your wrist straight when on the drops.
I have found this to be one of the most frustrating decisions to make when it comes to bike parts. This video has definitely help provide some clarity. Thank you as always guys.
I ride a compact bar now and never would've dreamt that'd be the case. This is so, during bunch riding i can be more heads up, when I can ride on the drops.
Changed my long stem and deep drops for a short 70mm stem and FSA compact bars. Huge difference. Way more comfy now. If you have a bike with aggressive road geometry and you're feeling a bit stretched, then give it a go.
7y ago is crazy
My hands are too small for drop bars :(. My fingers are too short to reach and use the brakes so i am stuck with flat bar bikes. my dreams are ruined but luckily there are options out there now! i watched the entire video trying no to cry but thank you Simon for the information at lease i can advise others.
Jamie Smith short reach handlebars + adjustable brake levers
Simon, you've 'raised the bar' with this video!
Only GCN would frame a shoe, saddle and crankset to hang on the wall.
And a whole bike lol
FSA compact bars are pretty much perfect. Compact vero are 30 bucks on Wiggle. Job done :)
I always chose compact bars with 120mm Drop and 70/75mm Reach - most comfortable for me
I found my perfect bars and part of the equation for me was an aero bar because the wider flattened section feels good when I am on the tops.
I rode Ergo bars for years and was never comfortable in the drops, then I bought the FSA Omega compact handlebar and have found the Holy Grail.
Woah Si, you're married? Which one is the lucky bike?
He lives Orbea, so maybe Specialized Haha!
Helpful video as always guys keep up the fantastic work and keeep cycling 🚲🚲🚲🚲
The factory bar always fitted me just fine...
je like 2cm matter, not rly
You'd be surprised.
It does matter big time.
I'm 5 6, 42cm shoulder width but XS on my canyon came with a 40cm bar. and it does feel a bit too narrow.
Ritchey Neoclassic bars, love 'em!
I've just done some DIY on my bars. Narrow on one side for some aero, wide on the other for stability.
Works great! Exactly what I needed.
I like compact low drops, 3T Ergonova Team carbon with 123mm drops, fantastic
Tha photo of the bike according with the présentateur, for the smaller cyclist using the short reach the blue one, belong to Romain Bardet the french cyclist that is 1,84 mts tall. He's not small at all!
Thanks for the opportunity
I can't get on with modern compact bars, it always feels like I'm going to fall out the back of the drops somehow. I switched my road bike to 40cm Deda Newton traditional bars with a shallow drop. Best thing I ever did, made the bike more comfortable and my hands less numb. I'm considering the same bars for the CX bike now...
Great video, thanks for the clear explanation :) I must notice you have beautiful hands, those nails are top notch
I like to handle bars - even more so if they have good brew in 'em.
Learned a lot, thank you.
Handlebar shape is often overlooked when setting up your position. Handlebars have a far greater affect on your position than a stem. I myself ride a track handlebar on a road bike which gives a huge difference between the drops and hoods.
Great information. Looks like I need a compact handlebar
I've got Cinnelli's matched to my shoulder width but with less drop than older ones. They're traditional according to your classification. I like them because the geometry is so simple: right angles and regular curves (the radius of curvature is constant). I like to angle the drops so my wrists aren't bent and my setup is pretty different in that way from what I see here on GCN.
coulda mentioned flared drop bars which are pretty popular on MTB conversions and cyclocross
what about the flat top bars? like the Aero profile bars. Is that just a matter of hand size and comfort when on the tops.
Investing in this question here...
living in the Philippines having smaller dropbars (sz38) is the best option due to the traffic
Hello chaps and ladies- I’m considering swapping my drop bars for bullhorn bars....I’ve always wanted to try them and would like a slightly more upright seating position. Would you please consider doing a video about bullhorns for road bikes?
Please do a video on stem length
I'd be really interested in a video that features alternative handlebars! It's not everyday you see flat bars on a road bike but people do it for a reason! Also the handlebars by BP4 Design are cool, check them out!
Just checked their site...it's no longer! Wonder why!? Might have been the crazy high price they asked for it. $250 for a bar???
What type of machine are you riding the bike on in the video. It looks smooth and with out sound. Can you give us recommendations on that type of machine or do a video on it.Thx.
Interesting info. Thanks for the videos. However, most people will just use the default habdlebar that comes with the bike.
Right. And those who feel uncomfortable or want to change the handlebar will come visit this video and learn.
Thanks be to God,.
God Bless Team GCN
▪️👍
▪️❤
FSA compact are the best in my opinion
GREAT advice on bars, Si. Thanks.
-A
I just went with a Zipp compact arrow bar on my road bike. I went to a more narrow bar as my shoulders roll in when I am on the bike.. Only wish I would have made this chance earlier..
Actually like the informative videos while anyone of you from the GCN crew is in motion. Can see the visual aspect better. In "REAL TIME"
need to correct one thing: narrow bars are more stable at higher speed. I switched to 36cm bars on the track and they helped so much i switched on all my bikes.
grow some shoulders !
Nope, wider bars are more stable. Try and ride with your hands nearest the stem on a mountain bike and tell me how that works out. If a wider bar seems less stable to someone, they probably have other fit issues hindering their reach. Longer stems are also more stable than shorter stems because it 'slows' the steering by requiring more end movement for same degree of rotation.
wide bars give more precision at low speeds (
narrow bars and long stems both work to reduce the steering input and stabilize the steering, if you look at mountain bikes they go for super short stems and super wide bars to give the opposite effect and increase maneuverability
:Galen Kehler Big reason short stems in MTB are popular right now is because geometry changes in the last few years have accommodated for them, by stretching the effective tube tube length, thereby allowing shorter stems for more reactive, "faster" steering. It also keeps weight distribution further back for technical descents. The wide bar phenomenon in MTB is simply due to leverage. More leverage, more control pointing the wheel forward. Even in XC we see more wide bars. XC racers only ran narrow bars because of clearance between trees (courses are much wider now, however) and more aero (we now know aero gain on the bars has become neglible compared to what time is lost in the woods from narrow bars).
Here's a great read on stems, specifically about turning arc: cyclingtips.com/2015/03/how-does-stem-length-affect-a-bikes-steering-and-handling/
Any videos or advice on one piece bar/stem combo pieces?
Nice Crockett 7
"If I spend any length of time in the drops..." But do you anyway? If the bars are so shallow that the position is basically the same on the hoods versus the drops (the arms sweeping out an arc about the shoulder) then what's the point? I personally like the drops to provide a bit of a lower position so I can be more aggressive when I really want that, for example when taking a pull at the front of the group, but then to go back to the hoods when comfort, rather than aerodynamics, has a higher priority.
Additionally, I think when switching brake levers, for example from Shimano to SRAM, the latter designed to be flush with the top of the bars, the optimal reach may change. Back in the downtube shifter days when people used to ride in the ramps, the arms don't extend out ahead of the bars as they would with SRAM, and the optimal bar reach would be greater.
i use love handles
What if you want to sit UPRIGHT and use STRAIGHT handle bars with GRIP ENDS? What is your advice?
Love this video! I found a shallow handle bar but is has a 12 degree flare. What exactly is the point of the flare?
Thanks Si!! It all makes so much sense now!! Random question: what size bars does Emma use? I'm all of 5'1 out here 😂
I've just started using deep drops, mainly to get down out of our wonderful headwinds round here. I can't understand how you say compact are easier to reach the brakes? I find the levers are far closer on my more traditional deep drops than they were on my compact bars due to the bend going farther forwards (hence the longer reach too I assume).
Exhaustive like always. Great.
ı really don't understand why you advertise drop bars. Riding bikes since I was 4yo, and flat handlebars are definitely better in most cases (except aerodynamics)
Is for you more ergo handlebars more comfortable against medium ergo handlebars or ... what GCN crew have to say about thet?
thanks a lot !!! Appreciate this video!!
damn, now i didn't realize i need new handle bars.
I struggle to get a job
This is one of those jokes that get funnier with time.
@@echtervorarlberger true
Just when I thought I had everything sorted out ...
PERFECT!
Very well explained Si, even on a bike that doesn't fit you at all :D
Why didn't you guys cover flared bars in this video?
They are talking about road bikes. That's why I didn't complain why they did not cover shallow spread-out in adventure bikes configuration :)
Drop Bars? Finally,
I went the opposite direction with Nitto RB-018 pursuit bars. Probably looks odd to some people, but they fit my riding and get me into a good aero position.
thanks for your exp
what about aero drop bars? could you please do a video about their benefits/otherwise and which are better or worse
In Morocco I saw people riding custom built bikes with drop bars fitted upside down!!!
might handle bars not fitting well cause neck discomfort? If so, how does one fix the issue?
What about aero bars?? Why were they not reviewed
Do all handle bars fit all bikes
thanks! great vid!
What brand is the handlebar on that bike? I like the drop...
Classic shallow drop bars have gone kaput with how many Shimano lever variants there are.
It's the first time I noticed simons wedding ring. Or did he just get married
Juan Gutierrez he's been married a while
He's happy and his wife is married. See what I did there?.. :)
Can you help me with links to good carbon handlebars
You forgot about graval option :-)
Yeah mate
Do narrow bars cause any discomfort?
Hello Simon, may I ask what is your shoulder width? If you choose 42 cm handlebar for your road bike, does that mean your shoulder width is 40 cm? I'm asking to try to figure out what size should I be using. Is it ok if I choose the same handlebar width as my shoulder? Thanks
I missed the bullhorn handle bar..
Interesting, thanks
Link to the Profile drive system?
What about the difference between aerodynamic handlebars with a teardrop shape and more traditional, rounded bars
Both my bikes have "aero" hadlebars. One has Ritchey and the other has 3T. It's more difficult to attach things on the handlebars, your palms hurt in long rides and the marginal aero advantage appears above 40 km/h - but they look "nice". The choice is yours. I bought the Ritchey first because it has ergonomic drops, much better than the classic round my Trek had.
Where can I buy the GCN helmets
You didn't mention the style with drops flared out, like on the Specialized Sequoia. Is that something only suitable for gravel/adventure bikes? Are there any drawbacks to that design other than aerodynamics?
On my 1985 Vitus bike it cane with 44cm bars. My new bike has 42cm. Just bought 44cm. I'm used to the wide bars. They let you breathe.
I've recently changed from 44cm bars to 42cm. Both bars have a 70mm reach (Zipp SL70) but I'm finding that I fatigue quicker. Is this normal, and likely to dissapear when I get used to them a bit more?
is the zannata z88 a good bike with ultegra
Does anyone know whats the name of the handlebar in the video? How can i found it?
What about flared vs straight drops? #torqueback ?
When i am on hoods I feel ok, maybe a bit stretched out, but when on drops i get a feeling that i would like i bit longer reach. Any suggestions for handlebars which give longer reach for drops ?
I ride just fine in the drops, but keeping my head up really does make my neck ache. Is there any way to stop that?
Deda RHM 02
I want my bike to look as close to an evil goat as possible.
Cute and rides nice
When changing fa 40cm drop bar to a 44cm, how do i check if cables will be long enough or too short?
wait, is that a 1x setup for a road/cx bike? that left shifter looks weird without the shifting paddle!
If the bars flare out from the hoods to the drops, do I have to match my shoulder width with the hoods or the drops? For example, the FSA compact bars that flare out about 2cm. Thanks :D
Why change bar before stem? I don't get that bit..
Is 8cm reach long? I am 16 years old and I am building my own road bike and I dont have any experience with road bike. What size reach so you advise me?
bar ends ?